Judge DENIES El Chapo's request to hug his wife before trial begins next week but notes that the notorious drug lord has displayed 'exemplary' behavior and 'grace under pressure' while in solitary confinement

The lawyers said it would be a 'humanitarian gesture' for the man who has been linked to nearly three dozen murders.

El Chapo has been held in solitary confinement since he was extradited to the US in January 2017, having escaped from prisons in Mexico twice.

Judge Brian Cogan praised the 61-year-old's 'exemplary' behavior both in court and in confinement, saying that he's 'displayed considerable grace under pressure' while being subjected to the strictest inmate security protocols in the US.

However, Cogan concluded that the request was 'contrary to all' security procedures and thus cannot be accommodated.

El Chapo's defense team submitted a letter asking the inmate allowed to give wife Emma Coronel Aispuro (pictured) 'a brief, momentary greeting to include perhaps an embrace' ahead of opening statements on Tuesday. El Chapo, 61, has been banned from communicating with the 29-year-old mother of the couple's twin girls since his extradition to the US in January 2017

'The Court is sympathetic to the request,' Cogan wrote in an order denying the request. 'As defense counsel points out, defendant’s conduct during what are surely difficult proceedings and conditions of confinement for him has been exemplary, and he has displayed considerable grace under pressure.

'Nevertheless, having conferred extensively with the US Marshals Service about defendant’s request, the Court is constrained to deny it.

'The Marshals have stressed that acceding to the request would be contrary to all the security procedures that have been put in place.'

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Judge Brian Cogan (pictured) denied El Chapo's request on Thursday, writing that while the inmate has displayed 'exemplary behavior' during his two years of solitary confinement, allowing the embrace would violate necessary security procedures

Over the nearly two years since his extradition, El Chapo has been banned from communicating with or having physical contact with Aispuro, the 29-year-old mother of their twin seven-year-old girls.

His lawyers wrote in the request for contact: 'It is well known that solitary confinement poses negative effect to a person's sanity.

'The only human contact Mr Guzman has had since his extradition has been with the jail personnel when putting and removing his shackles, and a quick handshake from his attorneys when he goes to court'.

However, Cogan noted that those restrictions had been 'tailored to the government's legitimate objectives of preventing [the defendant] from coordinating any escape from prison or directing any attack on individuals who might be cooperating with the Government' as witnesses.

The judge's order continued: 'This is especially true on the eve of trial, when the reality of the potential liability defendant faces if convicted may be setting in and his motivation to escape or threaten witnesses might be particularly strong.'

El Chapo is charged with 17 counts of drug trafficking and running a criminal enterprise known as the Sinaloa cartel, one of Mexico's most violent and dangerous organized crime syndicates. He has pleaded not guilty.

If convicted, he is likely to spend the rest of his life behind bars in a maximum security US jail.

El Chapo's defense attorneys noted that he has not had any contact with Aispuro (pictured right with their two children in February) for the two years he's been in solitary confinement

The defense attorneys, Eduardo Balarezo and William Purpura (pictured arriving at the US District Court in Brooklyn on Monday), wrote in the request: 'It is well known that solitary confinement poses negative effect to a person's sanity'

While the kingpin sits in a New York prison awaiting trial, Aispuro has been living the life of luxury.

The former Mexican beauty queen regularly showcases her glamorous life in photos posted on her social media account.

In recent months, the 29-year-old has shared photos of herself beachside in a bikini, soaking up the sun in Los Cabos and showing off her Prada purses.

The mother-of-two also made headlines in September after throwing an elaborate Barbie-themed birthday party for the couple's seven-year-old daughters Emaly and Maria.

Some Mexicans reacted with fury after news of the lavish birthday party emerged, accusing Aispuro of using 'blood money' from her 61-year-old husband's drug empire.

Aispuro, who wed El Chapo in 2007, has US nationality. Their daughters were born in America but live in their father's home state of Sinaloa.

The whole family has attended El Chapo's various court appearances in New York this year.

While El Chapo sits in a New York prison awaiting trial Aispuro has been living the life of luxury

The former Mexican beauty queen regularly showcases her glamorous life in photos posted on her social media account

The mother-of-two also made headlines in September after throwing an elaborate Barbie-themed birthday party for the couple's seven-year-old daughters Emaly and Maria

A jury of seven women and five men were selected on Wednesday for El Chapo's trial. They will remain anonymous.

The selection comes after Cogan was forced to dismiss everyone from a Michael Jackson impersonator to a man who often orders the 'El Chapo' sandwich at his local deli.

One potential juror was dismissed after he asked a court security officer to help him get El Chapo's autograph.

When questioned about it on Tuesday, the man confessed to the courtroom: 'I'm a bit of a fan.'

The remark prompted a smile from El Chapo. His lawyers tried to keep him on but the judge dismissed him.

Cogan was also forced to dismiss five people who said they would be scared for their safety if they were selected.

Among them was a young woman who was heard crying 'profusely' in the hall, saying that her mother had told her they would have to get a new house.

When the judge read out her remarks, El Chapo laughed.

Armed police stand outside the US District Court on Monday on the first day of jury selection

Others were dismissed for having watched the Netflix series Narcos, which details the life of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar.

Some were dismissed because they said they had heard about the Netflix documentary which is believed to have led to El Chapo's capture.

The courthouse was surrounded by high level security on Tuesday as the selection continued.

El Chapo's lawyers are eager to dispel the idea that he is a violent criminal and say all the added security around the courthouse and trial do nothing to help his reputation.

'He's a mythical figure at this point,' his lawyer Jeffrey Lichtman said on Monday.

'And if you read the many books that have been written about him, even by the agents in the case, they even discuss it – they don't know what was real and what wasn't real.'

The judge has ruled that the jury may be sequestered for some of the trial, which is expected to take as long as four months.

The US District Court in Brooklyn was kept under tight security during jury selection this week